The “Gut Feeling” is often synonymous with a sense
of desperation resulting from a lack of preparation. The Gut Check
is a huge proponent of studying the numbers, but there’s
a point where one can place too much emphasis on the wrong information.
This can result in the undervaluing or overlooking a player’s
potential. Therefore, The Weekly Gut Check is devoted to examining
the frame of reference behind certain number-driven guidelines
that fantasy football owners use to make decisions.

Although The Weekly Gut Check doesn’t claim to be psychic,
he does believe that he can dispel certain numbers biases and
help you make the best choices for your team. We’ll keep
a running tally of The Weekly Gut Check’s insights. This
way you can gauge his views as something to seriously consider,
or at least seriously consider running the opposite way as fast
as you can!

Drafting is a craft because it requires technique and guile; planning
and improvisation; art and science. Good owners generally get a
feel for the process and learn how to work it to their advantage.
Acquiring such a feel requires observation, analysis, and practice.
The Gut Check can’t help you practice yet (more on this in
the coming year), but he can provide some observation and analysis.
And what better way to do it than perform an autopsy on an average
draft.

The average draft we’ll use is actually a simulated draft
based on ADP data from this time last year in a standard performance
league format (the scoring system often used in the Gut Check’s
columns). The spots aren’t exact to the ADP, but pretty
close—generally within a round. The Gut Check left some
team irregularities one might see in a common draft such as one
team with three kickers or another roster with one team defense.
The table is laid out to reflect a snake draft with positional
color-coding.

1.01

1.02

1.03

1.04

1.05

1.06

1.07

1.08

1.09

1.10

1.11

1.12

Tomlinson

Alexander

Holmes

James

McAllister

Manning

McGahee

D. Davis

C. Portis

K. Jones

R. Moss

J. Lewis

2.12

2.11

2.10

2.09

2.08

2.07

2.06

2.05

2.04

2.03

2.02

2.01

Jackson

L. Jordan

C. Johnson

Holt

Westbrook

T. Owens

Culpepper

R. Johnson

A. Green

C. Dillon

T. Barber

J. Jones

3.01

3.02

3.03

3.04

3.05

3.06

3.07

3.08

3.09

3.10

3.11

3.12

Harrison

J. Walker

C. Martin

T. Bell

J. Horn

Gonzalez

A. Johnson

R. Wayne

McNabb

A. Gates

C. Williams

H. Ward

4.12

4.11

4.10

4.09

4.08

4.07

4.06

4.05

4.04

4.03

4.02

4.01

J. Witten

M. Bulger

A. Boldin

Clayton

W. Dunn

M. Bennett

D. Foster

R. Williams

S. Smith

Arrington

D. Jackson

Burleson

5.01

5.02

5.03

5.04

5.05

5.06

5.07

5.08

5.09

5.10

5.11

5.12

D. Bennett

R. Brown

L. Johnson

T. Green

K. Collins

F. Taylor

J. Porter

D. Driver

L. Coles

Benson

L. Fitz.

Barlow

6.12

6.11

6.10

6.09

6.08

6.07

6.06

6.05

6.04

6.03

6.02

6.01

T. Henry

Crumpler

Branch

L. Suggs

T. Heap

J. Smith

I. Bruce

M. Vick

C. Brown

D. Staley

Shockey

B. Favre

7.01

7.02

7.03

7.04

7.05

7.06

7.07

7.08

7.09

7.10

7.11

7.12

Chambers

A. Lelie

M. Hassel.

D. Mason

Muhammad

T. Jones

Dal. Clark

L. Evans

Palmer

Plummer

T. Brady

J. Bettis

8.12

8.11

8.10

8.09

8.08

8.07

8.06

8.05

8.04

8.03

8.02

8.01

D. Brees

M. Moore

C. Rogers

R. Williams

Delhomme

R. Smith

A. Brooks

M. Faulk

E. Moulds

Stokley

Duckett

Burress

9.01

9.02

9.03

9.04

9.05

9.06

9.07

9.08

9.09

9.10

9.11

9.12

NE Def

McMichael

PIT Def

T.J. Housh

Kennison

Penning.

Bills Def

Johnson

Droughns

D. Carr

Stallworth

Griese

10.12

10.11

10.10

10.09

10.08

10.07

10.06

10.05

10.04

10.03

10.02

10.01

F. Gore

Car. Def

Warner

S. McNair

K. Colbert

A. Becht

S. Moss

Harrington

Toefield

L.J. Smith

Leftwich

Pittman

11.01

11.02

11.03

11.04

11.05

11.06

11.07

11.08

11.09

11.10

11.11

11.12

McCardell

M. Alstott

Campbell

Anderson

Eagles Def

E. Shelton

M. Vander.

C. Buckh.

J. Putzier

Edwards

B. Lloyd

Viniateri

12.12

12.11

12.10

12.09

12.08

12.07

12.06

12.05

12.04

12.03

12.02

12.01

J. Kelinssr

D. Akers

Finneran

McCareins

Davenport

Roethlis.

Blaylock

D. Jolley

S. Davis

K. Johnson

Atl Def

Chrebet

13.01

13.02

13.03

13.04

13.05

13.06

13.07

13.08

13.09

13.10

13.11

13.12

Lumsden

Schobel

K. Curtis

Bucs Def

M. Williams

Boerigter

A. Rnd el

D. Rhodes

MIN Def

E. Manning

Toomer

H. Miller

14.12

14.11

14.10

14.09

14.08

14.07

14.06

14.05

14.04

14.03

14.02

14.01

T. Taylor

M. Jones

J. Wilkins

G. Lewis

D. Bledsoe

A. Bryant

J. Wiggins

D. Givens

K. Boller

Jurevicius

J. Elam

C. Taylor

15.01

15.02

15.03

15.04

15.05

15.06

15.07

15.08

15.09

15.10

15.11

15.12

Losman

Cooley

S. Jankiow

Redskins

M. Robinson

CHI Def

Williamson

Grossman

R. Curry

M. Shipp

B. Jacobs

Jags Def

16.12

16.11

16.10

16.09

16.08

16.07

16.06

16.05

16.04

16.03

16.02

16.01

Graham

Jenkins

Caldwell

Kaeding

Dal. Def

C. Fason

Ramsey

Jets Def

Galloway

M. Stover

M. Pollard

Troupe

17.01

17.02

17.03

17.04

17.05

17.06

17.07

17.08

17.09

17.10

17.11

17.12

Nugent

Colts Def

S. Graham

M. Clarett

L. Tynes

J. Brown

Longwell

T. Glenn

J. Reed

Lions Def

D. Boston

M. Turner

18.12

18.11

18.10

18.09

18.08

18.07

18.06

18.05

18.04

18.03

18.02

18.01

S. Parker

M. Morris

R. Moats

M. Clayton

Pearman

R. White

Mia Def.

J. Kasay

P. Price

B. Watson

Engram

J. Hanson

Most people approach the draft as if it were a two or three-part
process. The Gut Check will break it down into three sections
of six rounds: The Opening Rounds, the Mid-Rounds, and the Late
Rounds. Yours truly will start with general observations that
should naturally dictate a strategy depending on various situations
that occurred in this mock draft.

The Opening Rounds (1-6 or the first third of
your draft)

In this draft a little more than half of the teams selected two
backs in the first two rounds. Based on the Gut Check’s
experience, this is a very true to life occurrence. Most fantasy
owners like to utilize the Stud RB approach in their opening two
rounds. By the end of round three, 10 out of 12 owners have two
runners. Many people would just presume this means you should
adopt the Stud RB strategy. Not necessarily. It’s probably
a good idea to plan to draft two backs within the first three
rounds just due to the law of supply and demand (if your league
scoring system and tendencies match this example draft, as many
do), but merely following a rote strategy means you won’t
be paying attention to what is happening at the moment. This could
mean you don’t get the opportunity to make moves that set
you up for success with future picks.

The team with picks 1.11 and 2.02 is a good example of a team
that knew how to manipulate the opening rounds. First, the team
didn’t simply follow the run of backs going off the board.
The team recognized they had the chance to select any receiver
they wished for their team. This is a way of controlling the draft
board because the owner gets to choose any receiver they desire,
plus they possibly influence other teams to go with a receiver
a little earlier than planned. If this happens, that new positional
run gives this owner more opportunities to land a decent back
in round three. In hindsight, this owner had injury issues with
his first and third picks, but they were quality players and when
healthy demonstrated a level of productivity that reflects some
astute strategy in his drafting process.

It’s important to note that good timing and understanding
where positions historically go off the board are essential. Peyton
Manning’s ADP is a great example of a classic error that
many owners committed last year. Manning came off a record-breaking
season and most owners anticipated as good of a follow up from
the Colts QB. Yet historically, QBs rarely if ever follow up a
record-breaking season with the similar or better production.
Manning’s ADP was also abnormally high for a quarterback.
While the Gut Check thought Manning would break the trend and
continue his torrid pace, he never planned to draft Manning in
the first round. In essence, Manning (and Culpepper) was a more
logical pick in round three. If you understand your league tendencies
or fantasy football tendencies from a more historical perspective,
you won’t have to contemplate taking Manning off the board
so early. The chances he’ll be worth such a pick are extremely
small.

The opening rounds are generally good times to select these types
of players for your team:

Starting Backs and an Off The
Bench Contributor—Generally, you’re looking
for two in the first three rounds, and likely three within the
first six. Picking backs should be a regular occurrence throughout
all three phases of the draft because of the injury factor,
depth chart factor, and rookie factor. The injury factor includes
players missing time or players that do a great job replacing
an injured starter. Larry Johnson is a great example of an injury
factor player from 2005. The depth chart factor occurs when
an expected substitute wrests the starting job away from the
starter. The Mike Anderson-Tatum Bell situation was a perfect
example. Just note where each was drafted and you’ll see
how one was a huge steal and the other a relative bust. The
rookie factor is obvious—first year backs have the highest
likelihood of making a big fantasy impact of all the positions.
J.J. Arrington, Cedric Benson and Ronnie Brown (in theory) were
rookies where astute owners picked them as #3 backs for 2-back
starting lineups. On the other hand, making a rookie a #2 RB
is a higher risk. In this mock the owner not only made Cadillac
Williams his #2 RB, but also failed to secure a #3 RB until
much later in the draft.

Primary Fantasy Receivers—Depending
on your draft position and the players off the board, you’ll
likely do well to grab 1-2 receivers within the first six
rounds. The Gut Check defines a primary fantasy receiver as
a player with a history of consistent production (2-3 years)
in the areas of targets, receptions, yardage, and touchdowns.
Some teams lack a primary fantasy receiver (Minnesota, Cleveland,
and Tennessee), while others have players that are either
inconsistent or more likely in decline in this respect (Houston
has both in Andre Johnson and Eric Moulds). There are some
valid arguments as to why (in most cases) you shouldn’t
pick two receivers within the first 2-3 rounds. First, the
chances of you landing two quality runners diminishes after
round three just due to the fact that 2/3-3/4 of the opening
day starters will be off the board. There’s really no
complex strategy here—it’s just a simple law of
economics occurring in fantasy football. Second, you are more
likely to find quality starters throughout the opening rounds,
mid-rounds, and even the late rounds of the draft. Here’s
a count of starting quality receivers (that played enough
to qualify) and their ADP from 2005:

As it shakes out, 48% of the primary fantasy receivers came
from the opening rounds, 38% from the mid-rounds, and 14%
from the late rounds. Yet 72% of these receivers went off
the board between rounds three and twelve and 57% of them
after round four. Your league could be different, but based
on the Gut Check’s experiences in a variety of leagues
this reflects a common tendency.

Elite Quarterbacks and/or Tight
Ends—There is usually a more dramatic difference
between an elite runner/receiver and a starting quality runner/receiver
than an elite and starting quality quarterback. There is a fairly
healthy gap in points between the best tight end and the rest
of the pack, but tight end is the lowest scoring of the offensive
fantasy positions. So you’re best off remaining cautious
on selecting these players in the opening rounds. Historically,
there are 1-2 elite quarterbacks and tight ends each season.
But there still tends to be a gap between the best and the second
best at these positions. Therefore, drafting a quarterback or
tight end before round three is probably a reach. Then there’s
the question of accurately predicting the elite player. Peyton
Manning would seem like a solid choice for quarterbacks due
to his consistently high production, despite being a relative
disappointment in 2005. On the other hand, is the best tight
end Antonio Gates or Tony Gonzalez? Gates may seem like a no-brainer,
but is the quarterback position stable enough for him to continue
his run as the elite fantasy tight end? What about Jeremy Shockey,
the #2 TE from 2005? Then there’s Todd Heap or one of
the up and coming young players. Get the point? The higher you
grab a quarterback or tight end, the smaller your margin for
error must be in order to have made the best decision.

The Mid-Rounds (7-12 or the second third
of your draft)

If you follow the opening round tendencies then the mid-round
phase is the point where you hope to grab a starting quarterback,
fill out your starting lineup for receivers and tight ends, and
grab quality depth at running back. The last point should not
be understated—runners are obviously the position of greatest
demand in the draft and that means there will be fewer quality
players at this position available on the waiver wire.

You should be able to find a top ten starting quarterback between
rounds 7-12. It’s true you might want to go a round or two
earlier to diminish your margin of error, but that depends whether
you valued a specific quarterback over a second receiver, elite
tight end, or promising #3 RB with great potential to make a huge
impact (Larry Johnson last year, a top rookie this year). Thomas
Jones, Jerome Bettis, and Mike Anderson were three starting quality
backs that generally fell to the mid-rounds. Frank Gore, Ricky
Williams, and Mewelde Moore were also options that provided good
depth with some starting quality games throughout the season.

Quarterback is really the key position in this range of picks.
If you didn’t pick one of the top 2-3 signal callers in
the first 3-4 rounds, then it’s a good idea to focus on
the position between rounds 5-12. Some of the better players at
this position were mid-round picks in most leagues: Carson Palmer;
Tom Brady; Mike Vick; Jake Delhomme; Drew Brees; and Kurt Warner
were impact players relative to their position. Palmer and Brady
were among the best fantasy players at their position. Warner
had 3-4 week stretches where he carried many squads at just the
right time. You also get a shot at quality depth in the form of
players like Steve McNair, Jake Plummer, Byron Leftwich, Aaron
Brooks, and Brian Griese.

This is really the ideal place to get a quality tight end (if
not later), but it depends on the experience or tendencies of
your league. The Gut Check has found more experienced owners tend
to wait on drafting a tight end after the top two go off the board,
but that changes when 1-2 less experienced owners with consecutive
picks start a positional run. Despite this being the best time
to get a decent TE, you shouldn’t be overly concerned at
this point. Compared to RBs, WRs, and QBs, you should have relatively
more success with a late pick or a waiver wire tight end.

You’ll also notice some of the better-rated defenses and
kickers begin to go off the board at the bottom half of this phase
(rounds 9-12 for this draft). These are positions where you should
find starting quality players on the waiver wire if you don’t
land one in the late rounds. If you’ve done an incredible
amount of research on these positions and feel like you want to
take a player at this position in the mid-rounds, then more power
to you. Still, The Gut Check finds it an expensive investment
for the unpredictability of the position.

The mid-rounds (especially in the top portion of this phase)
are also a great place to pick up players that inexplicably fell
from grace. Let’s say hypothetically that Stephen Jackson
is suspended for a yet to be determined amount of games and your
league lets him fall to you at round seven because at the time
it’s unknown the amount of time he’ll miss. Considering
the risk reward ratio, Jackson is a great bargain at this point
because he’s getting drafted at the same point as back up
runners! You’re even less likely to use these backups, so
why not take a chance?

The Late Rounds (13-18 in this draft or
the final third of another draft)

In addition to landing a starting kicker and defense—note
the use of the singular rather than the plural for either position—this
is the best place to gamble on young players you like and veterans
coming off bad seasons. But why should you only pick one kicker
or defense? Here’s a common scenario that plays out in league
after league.

First there’s the draft, where at least 2-3 teams that
select multiple kickers and defenses. While drafting two at each
position is reasonable preparation for bye weeks or injuries,
anything more is a reflection of inexperience. Yet, why not rely
on most owners to be prepared and take advantage of this tendency?
When these people are drafting positions with minimal upside,
you are taking chances on players that could become high producers
at the key positions (Joey Galloway, Terry Glenn, Samkon Gado,
Antonio Bryant, and Bobby Engram come to mind for 2005). Plus,
the two easiest positions to acquire as a throw-in player in a
trade are team defenses and kickers!

Finally, which positions do owners usually drop in the early
weeks when a wavier wire gem unearths itself? You betcha—kickers
and defenses are among the first to go. So why waste your time
selecting more than one of each when there are so many ways to
easily acquire a good one after your draft? If anything, select
a quality kicker/defense with as late of a bye week as possible
so you can have some advance notice to acquire a better player
at the position as you see how the first 6-7 weeks of production
shakes out.

As you can see, this is really the place in your draft to go
deep and hope you get lucky. The Gut Check Check can think of
dozens of players that he’s seen selected in the late rounds
that practically carried a team. Kickers and defenses will not
carry your team; they will only fortify a team that is already
strong.

The best way to improve your drafting prowess is to practice.
Hold a mock draft or get involved with more leagues. Track the
results and refer to them when preparing for the following year.
This is another great reason to use FF
Today's Cheatsheet Compiler and Draft Buddy because you’ll
have both your results as well as ADP data to perform your own
Draft Post-Mortem.

Crank Score Projections Update

The Gut Check has received a number of requests for updated Crank
Projections. The Crank Score isn’t going to be different
due to the AVT format he’s using as the basis. The only
thing that will change is his rankings of players for each score.
So for those of you that wish to take the risk and use his updated
cheat sheet—good luck, because there are some big changes
after week two of the preseason. He has a draft coming up this
weekend, so as soon as he finishes his adjustments, he’ll
get them posted—mostly likely Monday. If you would like
a list before then, email
him on Friday and if they are ready, he might be able to send
them to you—no promises. Unless you’re meeting The
Gut Check at the Dagger for the draft.

Meanwhile, some of the changes he’s considering include
Clinton Portis. Anita Marks of ESPN 1300 Baltimore had
some very good points about this injury. She experienced a similar
injury as a football player and mentioned that the ligament in
the shoulder has really no elasticity. This means the injury permanently
stretches the ligament, which creates a likelihood of recurrence.
It’s also not a one-week injury and she’s speculating
he probably can’t lift his arm over his head at this point
or for a while.

Another point Marks made about Portis is how this will effect
his running style once he’s “healthy enough to play.”
She astutely describes Portis as a runner that has excellent body
lean—his pads are over his knees which allows him to stay
low, deflect hits, and get extra yardage when a defender wraps
up his legs or body. The shoulders and neck tend to be the sorest
parts of a runner’s body after a game because this is where
the brunt of the punishment occurs. Portis could be more vulnerable
to injury throughout 2006. In fact, he’ll likely have to
wear a harness to start the season.

So a partially dislocated shoulder makes Portis a greater risk
to wear down this year. The Gut Check had Portis as his #2 RB
overall—probably higher than most—although the injury
isn’t only a partial dislocation, it still knocks him down
a bit. Yours Truly still believes the Redskins back has the potential
to put on a show this year, but he’s no longer as much of
a lock to perform like a back in the upper half of the first round.

The Gut Check is also dropping the Raiders skill players. The
offensive line looks horribly inexperienced at this point and
this will have an adverse effect at each fantasy position until
the unit gels. On the other hand, nudge Rams runner Stephen Jackson
a bit higher up the list.

Look for a shake up with the quarterbacks. The Gut Check believes
Drew Brees could have an Aaron Brooks-like year (without the mistakes)
in New Orleans and Philip Rivers is slowly climbing the charts.
Receivers will also see some changes—mainly T.O., Randy
Moss, and Darrell Jackson on the way down and Horn, Wayne, and
Steve Smith on the way up.